Chord organs

ABSTRACT

In an improved chord organ of the type which includes base and keyboard sections having corresponding reed assemblies provided with openings that are normally closed by extending pallets of keys operative by a user, a spring device is provided for normally urging the key pallet against its reed assembly opening. The spring device includes a plastic unitary body having a plurality of compression fingers extending therefrom for contact with the pallets, there being relative sliding movement between the fingers and their respective pallets during movement of the pallets between open and close positions with their reed assembly openings. The organ also features an improved gasket for each reed assembly, said gasket including a plastic unitary body which is located over the top of the reed assembly and possessing an inherent tacky surface for adhering thereto. The organ also features a tonal device which includes a single molded plastic body having a plurality of uniquely arranged pivotally mounted baffle plates located adjacent the sound slots of the organ, said plates being movable with respect to the slots to cause the tonal sounds emanating therefrom to range between a brassy and muted quality.

United States Patent [1 1 Martin et a].

[111 3,744,364 July 10, 1973 CHORD ORGANS [75] Inventors: Harold B.Martin, Roselle; Herman O. Rogg, Watchung, both of NJ.

[73 1 Assignee: Graber-Rogg, Inc., Cranford, NJ

[22] Filed: July 21, 1972 i [21] Appl. No.: 273,707

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 94,894, Dec. 3,1970, Pat. No.

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F.Gonzales Att0rney--John J. Lipari [57] ABSTRACT In an improved chordorgan of the type which includes base and keyboard sections havingcorresponding reed assemblies provided with openings that are normallyclosed by extending pallets of keys operative by a user, a spring deviceis provided for normally urging the key pallet against its reed assemblyopening. The spring device includes a plastic unitary body having aplurality of compression fingers extending therefrom for contact withthe pallets, there being relative sliding movement between the fingersand their respective pallets during movement of the pallets between openand close positions with their reed assembly openings. The organ alsofeatures an improved gasket for each reed assembly, said gasketincluding a plastic unitary body which is located over the top of thereed assembly and possessing an inherent tacky surface for adheringthereto. The organ also features a tonal device which includes a singlemolded plastic body having a plurality of uniquely arranged pivotallymounted baffle plates located adjacent the sound slots of the organ,said plates being movable with respect to the slots to cause the tonalsounds emanating therefrom to range between a brassy and muted quality.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures Patented July 10, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Patented July 10, 1973 3,744,364

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 10, 1973 3,744,364

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 10, 1973 3,744,364

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 W 66 W 'W I. A l

din" CHORD ORGANS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Thisapplication is a division of application Ser. No. 094894, filed Dec. 3,1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,276.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to musicalinstruments, and more particularly to an improved chord organ employingreeds tuned to different pitches and which are activated by keys tosound different notes or chords.

It is well known that chord organs include a treble keyboard sectiontypically having two, three or more octaves, and a chard keyboardsection typically having twelve chords. Each of the keybaord sectionshave reed assemblies which include a plurality of openings that arenormally closed by extending pallets of keys operative by a user. Eachof the reed assembly openings have channels which communicate withrespective reeds of varying lengths and thicknesses. When a key isdepressed to lift its pallet from an opening, pressurized air ispermitted to pass through the reed and exit through the reed assemblyopening, thereby causing the desired note to be sounded.

It is essential to provide in such organs spring means for each keypallet in order to normally urge the key pallet against its respectivereed assembly opening to maintain same closed when the keys are in arest position, and to cause the pallet to be lifted smoothly from saidopening when sounding a note. Heretofore, individual metal springs werevertically inserted into and supported within respective prescribedfitted sockets of each pallet, thereby requiring time consuming laborcoupled with high cost spring fabrication.

It is also essential that gaskets be located over the reed assemblyopenings to provide an air tight seal with the bottom surface of thepallet in normal contact therewith so as to prevent the unwantedsounding of notes. Furhter, gaskets also are essentially located aboutthe peripheral edge of the treble and chord reed assemblies in order toprovide an air tight seal with their respective main chamber housingapertures in which they are located, thereby preventing unwanted airpressure losses which would result in reluctant reed starts. Heretofore,such gaskets were of a felt-like material and required an adhesive forjoining the gaskets to the treble and chord reed assemblies with theirrespective housing apertures. Production of the felt material having aconstant precise thickness was difficult, the thickness of the feltmaterial being critical since any variation would cause the undersurfaceof the pallet in contact therewith to be uneven and thereby result inair leakage which would cause the note to be unwantedly sounded.

Further, it is commercially important that various qualitiative soundsbe derived from chord organs. Hcretofore, many chord organs of the priorart were limited to only one quality of sound. For example, some organsemitted loud and brassy sounds, while other organs emitted soft andmuted sounds. In an endeavor to provide organs with varying qualitativesounds, complex circuitry and apparatus were used, but, obviously, suchuse resulted in a relatively high cost to the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide ina chord organ, an improved spring device cooperatively associated withthe pallets of the organ keys, said spring device including a plasticunitary body having a supporting member with a plurality of resilientfingers extending therefrom, the free end of each finger hvaing aconfiguration such that it is complementary with the pallet to not onlysecurely urge the pallet downwardly to provide an air seal with its reedassembly opening, but also to permit relative sliding movement betweenthe finger free end and pallet, while simultaneously preventing lateralmovement of the pallet, when the key is depressed to lift the palletfrom its opening for sounding a note.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in an organ, animproved gasket for the treble and chord reed assembly boxes of theorgan, said gasket including a plastic unitary body having a pluralityof openings arranged and shaped similarly to the box openings, and anoverlapping periphery capable of extending over and partially under theperipheral edge of the box. The gasket is of a tacky material, therebypermitting the bottom surface of the gasket to adhere to the top surfaceand peripheral edge of the box. The topsurface of the gasket is treatedwith a quick acting, low cost drying material, such as tale, to providea substantially non-tacky surface to permit the bottom surface of thepallets to move freely from the gasket openings which communicate withthe box openings.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide in a chord organ atonal device capable of permitting various qualitative sounds to beemitted. The tonal device includes a plurality of uniquely arrangedbaffle plates located over the top surface of the ventilating or soundslots of the organ, said baffle plates capable of being arranged invarious positions with the slots for producing either brassy or mutedtonal sounds.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external view of the improved organ with the tonaldevice being removed therefrom;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are a combined partially schematic exploded view of thehousing air chamber, treble reed and chord reed assembly boxes,respectively;

FIG. 5 is a detailed plan view of the keyboard chord assembly with acut-away section;

FIG. 6 is a partial isometric-sectional view of the reed assembly boxand gasket;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a view depicting the spring device fingers;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the tonal device for the ventilating slots;and

FIG. 11 is a view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawing,FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of the invention wheren thereference numeral 10 designates a housing which may have a flat bottomsurface for resting the organ on any desired location, i.e., a table,floor, etc. Alternatively the housing may be provided with legs llllfixedly positioned in respective supporting bases l2l2. Lo-

cated on and within housing is a chord keyboard section generallyreferred to at 13 and comprised of keys l3a-l3a, and a treble keyboardsection generally referred to at 14 and comprised of keys 14a-14a. Thechord and treble keyboard sections 13 and 14, respectively, are disposedin the housing such that an operator may play the organ while seated onseat 15.

While FIGS. 3,5,7, and 8 illustrate chord section 13, and FIGS. 4 and 6illustrate treble section 14, for the sake of brevity, and as far as theinvention is concerned, it is understood that section 13 is broadlysimilar in structure and function to treble section 14, except fordifferences which are discussed hereinafter. Generally, the onlydifferences between sections 13 and 14 are (a) the key size, (b) treblesection 14 is provided with a single treble reed box of either two orthree octaves, whereas chord section 13, normally has three reedsactuated by each key and generally contains two or more reed boxes, and(c) the tonal frequencies of the treble and chord sections aredifferent, as is well known, and are not a part of this invention. Thus,similar reference numerals for similar components are used and one willsuffice for the other.

Housing 10 includes an air chamber 16 provided with two apertures 17,18, as seen in FIG. 2 for receiving reed boxes 19, 20 (FIGS. 3 and 4) ofsections 13 and 14, respectively. Each reed box is of a suitable plasticmaterial, such as polystyrene, and provided with a top plate 21 having aplurality of openings 22-22 extending therethrough. It can be seen inFIG. 5 that the chord openings are arrangd in two horizontally extendingrows, while the treble openings, as seen in FIG. 6, are aligned in asingle row. The reed box openings 22-22 extend through respective formedpassageways 23-23 and terminate with conventional reeds 24-24 which areof varying frequencies.

As seen in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, located on the top surface of plate 21 areopposing molded end members 25-25, each of which is provided with anarcuately formed groove 26-26 therein for receiving a shaft 27,described in more detail hereinafter. A pair of posts 28-28 are providedat one end of plate 21 for receiving fastening members 29-29therethrough for connection into receiving slots 30-30 in order tosecure the reed box to its respective housing aperture. A pair of posts31-31 are provided near the other end of the plate for receivingfastening members 32-32 for connection into receiving slots 33-33, fornot only securing the plate to its housing aperture but also forsecuring a resilient unitary spring device, generally referred to at 50,which is described hereinafter.

A unitary gasket 35, as seen in FIG. 5 for the chord assembly and FIG. 6for the treble assembly, is made of a material having an inherent tackysurface, such as a styrene rubber, commercialy known as Kraton; Thegasket is molded such that it is provided with a plurality of openings36-36 arranged similarly to its respective reed box openings 22-22. Thegasket also is provided with openings 37-37 for fitting about posts28-28 and end members 25-25. The peripheral edge of the gasket is bent90 downwardly from its horizontally disposed top surface and extends thevertical length of plate edge 38, whereupon the gasket is then bent 90and extends inwardly and under bottom plate surface 39. A tab T ismolded to the gasket to facilitate manual handling thereof.

The top surface of the gasket effectively is dried upon the sprinklingof talc or any other drying agent compatible therewith. After drying,the gasket is located over the top of plate 21, and pulled and stretchedover peripheral edge 38 and under the bottom surface 39 thereof. As aresult, the bottom tacky surface of the gasket adheres to the platesurface with which is has come into contact and the gasket is firmlysecured to the plate.

Thus, when each plate 21 is located in its respective housing apertures,the outer tacky bottom portion 40 of the gasket contacts the top surface41 of housing 10. As a result, a firm seal is formed and such is furtherassured when fastening means 29-29 and 32-32 are connected through posts28-28 and 31-31 respectively. Further, air tight seals also areautomatically provided about each of plate openings 22-22, therebyinsuring no air losses when key pallets 45-45 are in closed contacttherewith, now to be described.

With reference to FIGS. 5,7 and 8, there is illustrated chord section 13having a plurality of keys l3a-13a, each of said keys being providedwith a mid-section 42 interconnecting the key with its respective pallet45. Each pallet is provided with a flat closure portion 46, generally ofa configuration similar to but slightly larger than plate and gasketopenings 22 and 36, respectively, which it normally covers. The topportion of each pallet is provided with a rib 47 preferably havingeither an angular or relatively narrow top surface 48.

A spring device, generally referred to at 50, is made of a material,such as an acetal resin, and includes a body 51 provided with a pair ofopposing end mounting posts 52-52 for securing the device to plate 21via fastening means 32-32, as previously described. Extending from body51 are a plurality of flexible, compression fingers 53-53, the free endof each finger being provided with a groove 54 of complementary shape torib top surface 48 which it engages. Body 51 also is provided with apair of supporting elements 55-55 which extend in an opposite directionto fingers 53-53, said supporting elements securely holding shaft 27 ina fixed position when the spring device is fastened to plate 21.

The angular relationship of the extending fingers 53-53 with respect tothe pallet top surface 48-48 are dependent upon the height of the palletribs 47-47. Typically, all the ribs are of the same height and extend inthe same plane. The fingers extend downwardly from body 51 such thatwhen the spring device 50 is mounted, the grooves 54 of each finger arein contact with rib top surfaces 48 with a predetermined desired forcebeing urged upon the pallets to securely hold them against gasket 35 toclose their respective reed openings 22 and thereby prevent any air tobe emitted and, in turn, any note to be unwantedly sounded.

In order that a uniform pressure be applied against pallets 45-45, thesize of fingers 53-53 are depen dent on the length of key ends l3a13awith respect to the fulcrum point located over shaft 27 at keymidsection 42. As seen with chord section 13, two rows of pallets 45-45are provided for the openings 22-22 of reed boxes 19 and, accordingly,the lengths of the key ends to the fulcrum point vary. Thus, the keyswhich extend a relatively longer length from fulcrum 42 are providedwith relatively stronger spring fingers and, as illustrated in FIG. 5,such spring fingers are relatively wider and heavier than the fingersengaging the shorter keys. In this manner, an operator need not beconcerned that one key will be more difficult to depress than anotherand, accordingly, the so-called finger touch" or key response is of aconstant value and readily known to the operator, thereby enabling theoperator to control his timing and sounding of the notes with a highdegree of reliability. It is understood that since all the keys andpallets are of similar length, the fingers of the spring device on thetreble section are of the same size and configuration.

Upon the depression of a key by an operator, its respective pallet islifted from gasket opening 36 thereby permitting the flow of pressurizedair, created by a conventional impeller (not shown), through itsrespective reed 24 and reed passageway 23 to sound a note. As the palletis lifted, relative sliding movement occurs be tween finger groove 54and rib top surface 48, thereby enabling the pallet to be lifted easilyand smoothly. The spring finger material possesses a high lubricativeproperty and a low coefficient of friction. Simultaneously, due tofinger groove walls 5656 closely overlapping the side walls of the rib,lateral movement of the pallet and, in turn, the key, is prevented,thereby insuring a return of the pallet and key to their normal restingpositions when the key is released. To further facilitate a smoothlifting and returning of the key and pallet, as seen in FIG. 8, agrooved member 57 located on the undersurface of each key, partiallyenvelops shaft 27 and moves arcuately thereabout as the key is depressedand released. A stop 58 is provided beneath each key for strikinghousing surface 59 in order to limit the downward travel of the key.

With reference to FIGS. and 11, there is illustrated a tonal device,generally referred to at 60 which is capable of controlling the qualityof sounds emitted between a brassy and muted range. The tonal devicegenerally is disposed over, but optionally may be located under, theventilating or sound slots 61,62 (FIG. 1) of the organ, the devicehaving a stationary rectangular frame 63 comprising a pair of paralleldisposed arms 63a-63a and a pair of parallel disposed end members63b-63b connected to the arms in a right angular relationship. Frame 63is secured by a suitable adhesive or fastening means (not shown) to thatpart of housing surface 64-64 which is located immediately adjacent toand surrounding sound slot 61. A pair of parallel disposed baffle plates6565 are respectively connected along one side thereof to arms 63a-63aby hinges 66-66, the other side of the baffle plates being connected torespective activating members 6767 by respective hinges 6868. The baffleplates 6565 together with the activating members 67-67 are of a size andconfiguration similar to but slightly larger than the sound slots 61,62so as to permit the baffle plates to completely cover the slots when theplates are in a closed position thereover.

A manually operated lever 69 is connected to activating members 6767 andextends into a slotted guide 70 projecting upwardly from arm 63a. Thus,as lever 69 is lifted, activating members 67-67 are caused to moveupwardly therewith and, in turn, baffle plates 65-65 are pivotallyremoved from their respective sound slots 61,62 to permit a variation inthe quality of sound being produced. As a result of said baffle platesopening the sound slots, the initial sound emitted is muted andprogressively transcends to that of a brassy quality when the baffleplates are fully open. It is understood that while a manually operatedlever has been described, it is apparent that conventional drive meanscan be connected to the lever and be operable in response to a footlever or switch controlled by the operator.

Tonal device 60 preferably is made of a polypropylene material, such asEscon, a trade named material of Enjay Corp., Cranford, N.J., orPro-Fax, manufactured by Hercules Powder Co. Such material possessesunusual and unique mechanical properties so as to withstand fatigue fromflexing in relatively thin sections. As a result, tonal device 60 iseasily molded as a unitary structure and hinges 6666 and 68-68 areintegrated therewith. Hinges 6666 and 68-68 are the thinnest part of thetonal device and their strength characteristics are superior to those ofother parts of the device. It has been found that optimum hinge flexlife is obtained by having a desired molecular orientation at the hingesection, as influenced by fabrication techniques and conditions.Pre-ferably, the molecular weight of the material utilized for themolded-in hinges are within a range of 240,000 to 300,000 in order tofacilitate obtaining the desired molecular orientation so as to providean unusually strong hinge.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is apparent that other embodiments can be providedwithout departing from the scope and spirit of thereof.

We claim:

1. In a chord organ having a chamber provided with a locating aperturetherein; a reed assembly box located within the chamber, said box beingprovided with a plurality of openings each of which communicate with arespective reed; a keyboard section having a plurality of pivotallymovable keys, each key being provided with a pallet extending therefromand having a closure member for normally closing a reed opening; meansfor creating a flow of pressurized air within the chamber to permit anote to be sounded responsive to a lifting of the pallet from itsrespective opening; the combination with a gasket which comprises:

a single molded unitary body having a plurality of openingscorresponding to the reed assembly box openings and in registrytherewith when said body is positioned over the top surface of the reedas sembly box, said body being made of a material whose surfaces possessan inherent tacky property, the top surface of the gasket being treatedwith a drying agent to remove the tacky property therefrom in order thatthe pallet closure members are free to be moved from their respectivegasket openings when notes are being sounded, the other surfaces of thegasket retaining the tacky property in order that the gasket can adhereto the read assembly box and provide an air tight seal therewith.

2. In a chord organ, according to claim 1, wherein the body is capableof being stretched and placed under tension and is further provided witha peripheral edge extending downwardly from its horizontally disposedtop surface for adhering to the periphery of the locating aperture inwhich the reed assembly box is seated in order to provide an air tightseal therewith.

3. In a chord organ, according to claim 2, wherein the peripheral edgeof the gasket extends downwardly the length of the top portion of thereed assembly box and then inwardly such that the gasket body covers thecomplete peripheral edge and at least a portion of the 7 8 under surfaceof the reed assembly box when it is 10- 5. In achord organ, according toclaim 4, wherein the cated thereover, thereby providing an air tightseal at body is provided with an integral tab extending therethe seat ofthe aperture and read assembly box. from for facilitating a stretchingand locating of the gas- 4. ln a chord organ, according to claim 3,wherein the ket over the reed assembly box. body is made of a styrenerubber. 5

1. In a chord organ having a chamber provided with a locating aperturetherein; a reed assembly box located within the chamber, said box beingprovided with a plurality of openings each of which communicate with arespective reed; a keyboard section having a plurality of pivotallymovable keys, each key being provided with a pallet extending therefromand having a closure member for normally closing a reed opening; meansfor creating a flow of pressurized air within the chamber to permit anote to be sounded responsive to a lifting of the pallet from itsrespective opening; the combination with a gasket which comprises: asingle molded unitary body having a plurality of openings correspondingto the reed assembly box openings and in registry therewith when saidbody is positioned over the top surface of the reed assembly box, saidbody being made of a material whose surfaces possess an inherent tackyproperty, the top surface of the gasket being treated with a dryingagent to remove the tacky property therefrom in order that the palletclosure members are free to be moved from their respective gasketopenings when notes are being sounded, the other surfaces of the gasketretaining the tacky property in order that the gasket can adhere to thereed assembly box and provide an air tight seal therewith.
 2. In a chordorgan, according to claim 1, wherein the body is capable of beingstretched and placed under tension and is further provided with aperipheral edge extending downwardly from its horizontally disposed topsurface for adhering to the periphery of the locating aperture in whichthe reed assembly box is seated in order to provide an air tight sealtherewith.
 3. In a chord organ, according to claim 2, wherein theperipheral edge of the gasket extends downwardly the length of the topportion of the reed assembly box and then inwardly such that the gasketbody covers the complete peripheral edge and at least a portion of theunder surface of the reed assembly box when it is located thereover,thereby providing an air tight seal at the seat of the aperture and reedassembly box.
 4. In a chord organ, according to claim 3, wherein thebody is made of a styrene rubber.
 5. In a chord organ, according toclaim 4, wherein the body is provided with an integral tab extendingtherefrom for facilitating a stretching and locating of the gasket overthe reed assembly box.